KIEV, June 25. /TASS/. Ukraine expects Russia to offer a dumping natural gas price in the third quarter of 2015, president of Ukraine’s gas pipeline operator Ukrtransgaz Igor Prokopiv said on Thursday.

"We expect a dumping price from Russia as compared to Europe," he said.

Kiev is now "in a very simple situation" because it selects the external gas supplier depending on price offers, Prokopiv said.

"Our situation is very simple, we have no ‘take or pay’ principle… if it is cheaper in Europe, we will take [gas] in Europe," he said.

The final gas price for Ukraine shall be at the level of neighboring nations, Poland for example, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the day before. «We cannot provide the discount in the same volume as earlier against such a significant oil price drop influencing on the gas price. The ultimate price for Ukrainian consumers must be at the level of neighboring nations, such as Poland," the president said.

The government will have to calculate the discount amount and make a relevant decision, the head of state said. "If such a request is received from Ukraine, I request to hold negotiations and make an appropriate decision," Putin added.